IN-PLACE PROTECTION (IPP)
FOR THE WORKPLACE
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Scope
▪
▪
▪
▪
What is In-Place Protection (IPP)
Importance of IPP
Possible Scenarios
Developing an IPP Plan for workplace
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What is In-Place Protection
• Similar concept in keeping out dust and
noise

⚫
Involves seeking
shelter in an interior
room with minimal
openings. Shutting all
windows and doors
Minimise infiltration of exterior air
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▪ In-place protection (IPP) includes
additional precautions

e.g. switching off
ventilation system

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e.g. sealing louvre
windows or openings of
similar design
What is In-Place Protection
▪ Concept rolled out
to the public in Sep
2003
▪ Targeted at
residential premises
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Case Study
▪ IPP implemented in past incidents….
• Lake Charles, Louisiana, Aug 27, 2020
Incident - Chlorine release due to fire at a
chemical plant.
Lessons - Residents within the affected area were
instructed to stay indoors. No fatalities or
injuries due to the chemical fire were
reported.
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Case Study
▪ IPP implemented in past incidents….
• Atchison, Kansas on Oct 21, 2016
Incident – Mixing of incompatible chemicals
resulting in the release of chlorine cloud.
Lessons - Thousands of community members
ordered to shelter-in-place. Some who
were outdoors and exposed to the
chemical sought medical attention due
to headache and sore throat. Therefore, it
was safer to stay indoors.
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Types of Protective Action
Public Protective Action
IPP
Evacuation
• Executed through
Fire Emergency
Plan (FEP)
• Executed through InPlace Protection Plan
(IPP Plan)
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IPP vs Evacuation
The decision to implement IPP rather than evacuation
during a chemical emergency will be driven by the
following considerations:
1)Potential for exposure to people being evacuated
2)Instantaneous, short plume duration
3)Vulnerable populations that cannot be evacuated
readily (eg. Hospitals and nursing homes)
4)Affected area with high population density (in the
region of thousands)
Note: Mass evacuation is a complex procedure requiring
substantial hours to complete, massive resources to move people,
perfect cooperation and understanding from the people
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When to Implement IPP
Notification to Conduct IPP
In the event of a chemical incident, you will be
notified by the authority to adopt in-place
protection through
Public
Warning System (PWS)
Free-to-air
Mediacorp TV channels and radio
stations
SMS-based
SGSecure
Public Alert System
mobile app
Door-to-door
notification
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Workplace vs Residential
Aspects
Workplace
Residential
Occupancy
Transient
Population
Building Structure
Mechanical
Ventilation
Systems
Announcement
Voluminous
Present
Small numbers
Absent
Complex
Complex
Simple
Natural ventilation/
air-condition
System to notify all
occupants
Need to establish
Shout across the
room
Intuitive
Need to conduct
drills
Simple
Accountability
System
Drills
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Guidelines
▪ Step 1 : Know your building/work premises
▪ Step 2 : Develop IPP plan
▪ Step 3 : Conduct IPP drills
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Guidelines
▪ Step 1 : Know your building/work premises
(1) Ventilation System
 What is the type of ventilation system?
 Is the building connected to other buildings,
passageways, and tunnels?
 Determine if there are smoke purge fans
(2) Switches that control air-handling units
 Building Automation System (BAS)Commercial Premises
 Fire Command Centre
(3) Location of ‘Safe Haven’ (Industrial Premises)
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Guidelines
Building Information
Building Name
No. of Storeys
Owner’s Name
Telephone
No.
FSM’s Name
Telephone
No.
Building Address
Occupant
Load
Correspondence
Address
(If different from
above)
Gross Floor
Area
Office Block
Car Park
Main Plant Room
AHU
Controls Switches
of air-con plants
Fresh air intake
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Guidelines
▪ Step 2 : Develop IPP plan
✓ Format modeled after Fire Emergency Plan
✓ Contents include :
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Objective
IPP Committee
Signal for Initiation of IPP
IPP Procedures
(5) Actions to be taken
(6) Duties and Responsibilities
(7) IPP Drills
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Develop IPP Plan
Objective
•
Safeguard human lives in the event of
hazardous release
•
Establish duties and responsibilities to
ensure
systematic
and
orderly
implementation
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Develop IPP Plan
IPP Committee
a. Co-ordinator/Asst. Co-ordinator
b. Receptionist/Information counter staff
c. Mechanical Ventilation Operator
d. IPP Warden/Asst. IPP Warden
(the Fire Warden can be assigned as the
IPP Warden)
e. Chief Security Officer
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IPP Procedures
The basic steps are:
• Shut all windows, doors, blinds/curtains and openings
• Turn off machinery and lights to minimise heat generation
• Turn off all air handling equipment (e.g. air conditioning) to
avoid drawing in air from outside
• Grab some cloths/big towels and tapes
• Choose a room (or rooms) with minimal windows/exterior
openings
• Use cloths/towels to seal off gaps between the door and floor
• Close all windows in the room. If there are louvre windows (or
openings of similar design), seal the gaps with commonly found
items such as cloths/towels or tapes
• Tune in to the free-to-air MediaCorp TV and radio stations or
SCDF’s social media platforms for updates on the latest situation
and/or instructions from the authorities
• Leave the room only when instructed by the authorities
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Develop IPP Plan
Actions To Be Taken
Action By
Co-ordinator
Announcer
Mechanical
Ventilation
Operator
IPP Warden
Chief Security
Officer
All Staff
Actions to be taken
Initiate activation of IPP
Make announcement through Public
Address Sys
Shut down all air handling units
Direct Staff to IPP rooms and conduct
roll call
Close all entrances and place
signage
Shut down machinery and proceed
to IPP rooms
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Guidelines
Signal / Announcements to Commence IPP
• Use of Public Address System
• Useful statements to include in the announcements:
 An In-Place Protection advisory has been issued
 DO NOT leave the building. The air outside is not safe.
 The ventilation and air-conditioning systems will be
shutdown to minimise infiltration of air from outside.
 Close windows and doors and turn off unnecessary
machinery and lights to minimise heat generation.
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Develop IPP Plan
▪ Mechanical Ventilation & AHUs
 To include Step-by-step instructions to
deactivate systems (intake and
exhaust)
 May need to modify procedures to
ensure quick deactivation (eg central
controls for MVs and AHUs, co-locate
controls in one location)
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Develop IPP Plan
▪ Mechanical Ventilation & AHUs
✓ Stop operation of Lifts - piston effect
✓ To bypass activation of pressurised systems
from auto alarm
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Develop IPP Plan
▪ Step 3 - Conduct IPP Drills
Important to familiarise occupants with IPP procedures
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Guidelines
▪ Termination of IPP
✓ Occupants may leave the building
✓ Use of purging system to dilute and purge the
building of any hazardous vapous which may
have infiltrated
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Conclusion
IPP will offer immediate protection to
occupants when evacuation is not
advisable during an emergency
Guidelines for IPP at Workplace available on SCDF’s Website
https://www.scdf.gov.sg/home/fire-safety/downloads/actscodes-regulations/in-place-protection-(ipp)-for-nonresidential-buildings
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THANK YOU
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